Questions on Indigenous Identity

The single greatest cause for confusion among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike is identity. How do you define it? What is an Indigenous person? And if 100% of the population does not agree on a single definition, which one is the "true" definition?

Do we define Indigenous identity in the negative? That is to say, I am not white, therefore I am Indigenous. Or, I am not Canadian, therefore, Indigenous.

When we opt for a specific definition, do we need to be an exclusive group? That is to say, reject participation with the world or with anyone outside our own little cliques?

Can an Indigenous root for a sporting team that is not racially their own, yet refer to the team as "their" team? Does this mean they are not Indigenous or that they are not a credible voice for Indigenous issues?

Suppose the Olympic team try outs for Canada declared that no Indigenous person may be on the team... Would we not angrily cry out "Racism!"? When Waneek Horn Miller, prominent Mohawk voice, made the Canadian Olympic team for water polo... Did she refuse to call it her team? No! She referred to the team as her team. Would she have wanted Indigenous people to reject supporting the team? No! Did this make her "colonial," "collaborationalist," "uncredible as an Indigenous voice," "un-Indigenous"?!?

So what is an Indigenous person? Is it by blood? Then there are no Indigenous nations, only ethnicity.
Is it by geography? Then what of those living off reserve or who were born off reserve or never lived on reserve or were taken from birth mothers and adopted out to white families?

Is it by recognized special "status"? Then our identity is entirely dictated by the Federal government.
What about identity by following a spiritual path? Then we have no nations, only a religion and anyone, even a person of Asian, African, or European descent can be Indigenous simply by making a 'religious' choice.

What about citizenship? I have yet to see this implemented, but would this not make more sense. Then we would need our own citizenship codes and immigration laws.

Now, whatever becomes the defacto standard definition - if ever one can be possible even - is part of that identity dependent on how much hate and rejection of non-Indigenous people we demonstrate? Must we always refer to non-Indigenous people as "the enemy" and "them"?

In all honesty, I don't think we can form a single identity for "Indigenous" people. In fact, as I pose these questions and ponderings, I think "Indigenous" is just as bad a term as the Canadian use of "Aboriginal." In fact, a Haida or a Cree or a Mohawk has no right to accuse an Ojibway or Blackfoot or Assiniboine of not being "Indigenous."

In fact, I believe so called "Indigenous" people who do this are practicing assimilation (perhaps without realizing it), but rather than forcing people to be Canadian or British, they force them to be whatever group they themselves are from (I.e. Mohawk, Anishinaabe, Innu, etc.).

If you are reading this, maybe someone once called you Apple, or Trading Post Indian, or Indian Agent, or colonial, or some other crude derogatory term. Take heart, for those are assimilationist terms and you are who you are despite what others may say. Nobody can control your identity. If you wish to seek your own identity - go back to your own Elders, for only your own people can determine if you are "Indigenous" or not.

I am Anishinaabe. No Blackfoot, Cree, Mohawk, Innu, Dakota, Dene, Maliseet, etc can tell me I am not Anishinaabe. And not a single one of them can tell me I lack credibility to speak for my own people.

Likewise I cannot tell them the same, nor can any of us give "approval" for it either. Only Anishinaabe can respond to Anishinaabe on identity.

What does this mean going forward? I'm not fully sure. I just know I am not sure umbrella terms are doing any of us any favours.